Woman sentenced to 15 years in prison after children found in filthy conditions

Woman sentenced to 15 years in prison after children found in filthy conditions

Samantha Grenier's father asks judge to impose lengthy sentence

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Updated: 6:44 PM EDT Oct 3, 2017

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WEBVTT HELP, PROMPTING HER OWNFATHER TO ASK TO BE HEARD.DWAYNE ERIKSON TOLD THE COURTHIS DAUGHTER IS A LIAR ANDBEGGED THE JUDGE FOR A HARSHSENTENCE.THE JUDGE OBLIGED.HE WAS NAKED IN A DIAPER.REPORTER NOVEMBER 21, 2016.MANCHESTER POLICE CALLED TO THISAPARTMENT FOR A WELFARE CHECK OFA MAN BUT A STENCH LED THEM TO AHORRIFIC DISCOVERY.>> THEY REMOVED THE BLANKET ANDFOUND THAT HE WAS STRAPPED TOTHE BED USING A HARNESS.REPORTER PROSECUTORS SAY A BOY,FOUR, AND A GIRL, TO, WERE INSEPARATE BEDROOMS, COVERED INFECES AND URINE.IT APPEARED THE DOG WAS BROUGHTTO THE ROOMS TO TOILET ONPURPOSE.GRENIER ADMITTED TO POLICE THATSHE STARTED STRAPPING HER SON TOTHE MATTRESS IN TWICE 14.THE GIRL WAS LEFT IN A CRIB WITHA LAPTOP COMPUTER.>> SHE WOULD WATCH FROZEN ALLDAY EVERYDAY ON A COMPUTER WHILESAMANTHA WAS AT WORK.>> I REALLY DO WANT HELP.I WANT TO BE A MOTHER -- ABETTER MOTHER, A BETTER WIFE ANDFRIEND.REPORTER: SAMANTHA'S FATHER WASSO ENRAGED HE HAD TO LEAVE THECOURTROOM BUT CAME BACK ANDASKED TO BE HEARD.>> SHE DESERVES TO STAY IN JAILAS LONG AS SHE CAN.REPORTER: THE JUDGE HANDED DOWNWAS AMOUNTS TO 15 YEARS INPRISON, THE SAME SENTENCE ASJAMES GRENIER RECEIVED FOR HISROLE.>> YOU HAVE LIED ABOUTEVERYTHING.I DON'T BELIEVE YOU ARE THEVICTIM.YOUR CHILDREN WITH THE VICTIMSAND I DON'T BELIEVE YOUUNDERSTAND THAT EVEN AS YOUSTAND HERE TODAY.REPORTER: THE CHILDREN ARE INFOSTER CARE.SAMANTHA GRENIER HAS BEENORDERED TO HAVE NO CONTACT WITHTHEM FOR THE DURATION OF HER

Woman sentenced to 15 years in prison after children found in filthy conditions

A Manchester woman accused of leaving her children in terrible conditions was sentenced to prison Tuesday after her father asked the judge to impose a long sentence.

Samantha Grenier pleaded guilty to all the charges she was facing and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

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Prosecutors said Manchester police were called to Grenier's apartment Nov. 21, 2016, to check on the welfare of a man, but a strong stench led them to a horrific discovery.

"They removed the blanket and found that 'E.G.' was strapped to the bed using a harness," prosecutor Sarah Warecki said.

Prosecutors said that a 4-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl were in separate bedrooms covered in feces and urine, and it appeared the dog was intentionally brought to the rooms to relieve itself, as well.

Grenier admitted to police that she started strapping her son to the mattress in 2014. The girl was left in a crib with a laptop computer.

"She would watch 'Frozen' on repeat all day every day while Samantha was at work," Warecki said.

Grenier tearfully told the judge that she was overwhelmed.

"I was stressed and overwhelmed," she said. "I know I need help, and I really do want the help. I want to be a better daughter, wife, mother and friend. Please, your honor, help me get the help that I need."

Grenier's father, Dwayne Erickson, left the courtroom, apparently enraged, but he returned and asked the judge to be heard.

"She deserves to stay in jail as long as she can," Erickson said.

Judge Gillian Abramson sentenced Grenier to 15 years in prison, the same sentence her husband, James Grenier, received for his role in the abuse.

"You have lied about everything," Abramson said. "I don't believe you are the victim here. Your children are the victims, and I don't believe you understand that even as you stand here today."

The children are in foster care. Samantha Grenier has been ordered to have no contact with them for the duration of her sentence.